Switch



March 2, v1948. 1. w. EISENKBERG SWITCH Filed Jan. 31' 1944 Patented Mar. 2, 1`94`8 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH Irwin W. Eisenberg, Alhambra, Calif. Application January31, 1944, Serial'No. 5201378 1-Claim. l

This invention relates to switches for the making and breaking of electrical' circuits and is more particularly directed to a switch of the fully enclosed, sealed and oil-filled type.

It is an object of this invention to produce a fully enclosed and sealed switch of the cil-filled type applicable for use in the making and breaking of electrical circuits underl conditions' of wide temperature variations.

It is another object of thisA invention to produce a switch 'relay member or the like applicable for opening or closing electrical circuits and particularly adapted for Vuse in installations subject to wide temperature variations.

Another object of this invention is to produce a switch of the fully sealed and enclosedtype vwhich includes a movablecontact member, means for actuating the contact member to Aa 'closed position, and means incorporating' a flexible diaphragm operable' from the exteriorV of the switch for actuating the switch bar to another position.

A further object `of this invention is to produce a switch of the fully enclosed type which includes a base member within which the pole pieces of the switch are embedded; a cover or enclosure member for housing and sealing a removable con'- tact bar upon the base member and which closure member includes 'a flexible diaphragm means capable of compensating for expansion or contraction andv also including diaphragm means operable for shifting the position of the contact member within the enclosure.

Other objectsv andv advantages of this'invention it is believed will be apparent from the following detailed descriptionv of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation mainly in vertical mid-section of the switch embodying my invention illustrating the switch in closed position.

Figure 2V is a view similar to Figure 1 with 'the switch in open position.

Figure 3 is a top plan view partly'iny horizontal section With the cover and diaphragm actuating member removed.

Figure 4 is a sectional end view taken substantially onthe line 4 4' of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a top plan View of the diaphragm cover embodied in the sketch incorporating my invention.

In the preferred embodiment ofV my invention asY illustrated in the accompanying drawings, I

ated form. It will be apparent, however, that my invention is not limited in its field of use to this particular adaptation.

In thisv modification I' employ a base member I` which maybe molded'Bakelite or other similar material'. The base I` isI molded to incorporate therein a magnet rivet 2, a sealing tube 3, contact inserts 5 and 6, and a metallic or other suitable material case 'I'. The base I is molded to vform a magnet recess '8L The switch isassembled upon the base I and within the' enclosurev formed by the metal case 'I. A diaphragm cover assembly 9 is' provided for the case 'I 'and this lcover is `of the hereinafter set 'forth'constructi'on In' assembling 'the yswitchupon the base I, a U-shap'ed actuating arm bracket III is rst mounted within the recess Il and then the permanent magnet I lz is positioned with-in the recess 8' with the rivet 2 extending through a central aperture of the magnetand the head of the rivet isthen spun or peen'ed as-irrdicated at I2 topermanently secure the magnet within the recess.

In this illustration of my invention there are two inserts l` which provi-de vertically spaced conhave shown my invention as adapted within a a switch or relay member of the magnetically actu- .ate theA switchV by movement of a tacts I'-3 and H which `are i-nsulated from each other. Between the contacts there is positioned the contact button- If'Ssupported upon the free endl of an armature plate I-T. The armature plate I'I is 'attached toa spring I'Ifa and -a current conduetor or pigtail I8. The current conductor I8 is secured to tlie 'upper endof the contact insert 51 witliinthe case 'I.v The .armature plate I`I` is normally supportedat one end on the Contact button I5 which rests on the contact I3- and on they magnet IVI atvthe other end, asfshown in Figure 1-, while the-spring Illa issecured by the buttonv I5 between the' current conductor I8 and the plate Il" and has a slot shown in dotted lines in FigureV 3- at an end opposite thecontact button I5. which slot receive'sltheinserti` below the point IofV the pigtail I@ connection to the insert 5'. Formed upon, or secured-l to the armature plate IT `are a pair of spaced ears I9 between which there is extended a pivot pin 2B.

The switch' actuating armj 2|` isfcarried by the pin Zllutorotate within the ears I9. The actuating arm 2I has' a cutout recess 2'2: through which the pig-tail I8 is extended". The actuating bar' 2`I is also pivotal-ly supported upon a pin 23 carried in the Ui-s'haped bracket |101. At its free end the actuating bar `2-I supports an actuating button i211- of` insulating materiali which is moved to actupush` button 25 as hereinafter described,

The diaphragm cover assembly 9 embodying my invention is herein illustrated as including a cover plate 3| having its marginal edges turned downward to form a flange 26, and a diaphragm plate 29 having an upturned marginal flange 28. The flange 26 fits within the flange 28 and the cover assembly fits within an oiset ange 21 provided around the case 1 and rests on a shoulder 23. The cover plate and diaphragm plate are suitably sealed together and to the case 'I by means of solder, welding or other permanent type of connecting and sealing arrangement.

The diaphragm plate is provided with concentrically positioned ripples or corrugations 30 centered with respect to the push button 25. The

4 movement or displacement of the compensating diaphragm is sufficient to include both the displacement of the switch actuating diaphragm and the volumetric change of the oil due to tem-- perature change.

In other words, when the liquid contained in the switch expands, the compensating diaphragm moving before the force is suflicient to move the switch actuating diaphragm. Conversely, when the liquid contracts the compensating diaphragm moves before a force which is developed suiiiciently to move the switch actuating diaphragm.

In order to fill the switch with oil I employ the sealing tube 3 which is molded within the ripples 30 form a switch actuating diaphragm the center of which upon ilexing of the diaphragm may be pressed against the push button 25 to cause the actuating arm 2| to rotate on its pivot 23 and lift vupwardly the ears I9 of the plate Il.

This action results in moving the spring I'Ia and plate Il upwardly to shift the position of the contact I5 from the position indicated in Figure 1 to the position indicated in Figure 2, which may be from a position of closing the circuit to a position opening the circuit or from a position of opening the circuit established between the insert 5 and one of the inserts B as illustrated in Figure 1 to a position of closing a second circuit between the insert 5 and the second insert 6 lying immediately to the rear of the insert 6 as indicated in Figure 1.

In order to provide for actuation of the switch through the diaphragm plate 29 in a fully enmolded base I and extendsl therethrough. I connect the extended end of the tube 3 with a suitable source of vacuum and evacuate the case to absolute pressure of a few millimeters of mercury. I then, by suitable cross connections connect the tube 3 to a source of oil so that the oil is drawn into the case 1 to ll the same completely. The end of the tube 3 is then sealed to retain the oil within the case l by any suitable means asby pinching the end of the tube 3 as indicated at 34.

The oil employed in this switch is ccf a special type which will remain liquid throughout a large temperature range and at very low degrees of temperature, thereby Ypermitting the switch embodying my invention to be used as a relay or closed and sealed type of switch filled with liquid Figure 5 or by forming a series of these diaphragm` portions or by forming the metal at this section of the cover 9 of less thickness. As illustrated, I may form a larger compensating diaphragm portion 32 by forming a plurality of concentric ripples 33 which areV of greater length than the ripples of the switch actuating diaphragm 39.

The areas of the diaphragm plate 29 between and around the switch actuating diaphragm 30 `and the compensating diaphragm 32 is relatively ilat, and aided by the ange 29 is relatively stii so that movement of one diaphragm is not mechanically transmitted to the other. However, when the case 'I is iilled with oil, movement of the switch actuating diaphragm is transmitted hydraulically, that is by pressure of the oil, to the compensating diaphragm as shown in Figure 2 -to compensate for the oil which must be displaced to permit movement of the switch actuating diaphragm.

The volume of oil varies with temperature change. The compensating diaphragm also compensates for this change-without appreciably affecting the switch actuating diaphragm; that is, the compensating diaphragm by reason of its greater flexibility, responds to pressure diierentials dueto change in volume of the oil before the switch actuating diaphragm is aifected, and under such conditions moves independently of switch member in the electrical installations in aircraft or other installations which pass through regions of very widely ranging temperatures. Y

, The magnet II operates upon the plate I'I to hold this plate inV the position indicated in Figure 1. Pressure exerted against the button 25 bows the spring Ila upwardly until the spring force is suiiicienfl to overcome the magnetic force 'of the armature plate Il and the plate then moves'upwardly to thereby break the contact of the Contact button I5 with the contact -plate I3. On release of the pressure on the button 25, the magnet II moves the plate I1 upwardly to again reestablish the contact.

The conjoint action of the magnet and spring produces a switch of the snap-over type. It will hold the armature in position to maintain the contactbutton I5 in contact with the contact I3 until sucient force i-s exerted on the actuating button 25 lto raise the plate Il away from the magnet II. When the force exerted by the spring due to pressure on the push button 25 is sufficient to move the plate I1 away from the magnet II the spring Ila will snap the plate I'I upwardly causing the button I5 to break from the contact I3 and make contact with the contact I4. This is caused by the fact that the magnetic force on .the plate Il decreases at a greater rate than the spring force as the plate moves away from the magnet. As the push button 25 is releasedthe spring force is reduced until the magnetic force on then plate Il is suicient to overcome the force of the spring Ila whereby the magnet Il Vsnaps the armature I6 back into its original position. The magnetic force on the plate l1 increases at a greater rate than the spring force as the plate Il moves toward the magnet. Y l

Having fully described my invention, it is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited to .thedetails herein set forth, but my invention is of the full scope ofthe appended claim.

the switch actuating diaphragm.` VThe range o f. Iclaim;l

not directly effect movement of said switch 10 member and being sufficiently flexible to eX under a force less than said predetermined force whereby it will ex under forces induced by contraction of said liquid before suicient force is induced to move said switchmember.

IRWIN W. EISENBERG.

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,789,017 Munthesen Jan. 13, 1931 2,111,816 Shaw Mar. 22, 1938 1,888,099' Williard Nov. 15, 1932 1,347,769 Wilkinson July 27, 1920 

